A Year Abroad (Hermione/Viktor)

Relaxation

The chill in the Durmstrang air became colder and Hermione longed for a break. When she was not studying, she was practising Chigvintsev's spells and when she was not practising she was writing her diary. All of this on top of classes began to feel oppressive on Hermione. She had relaxed so little since the end of the war, that a break was duly deserved.

Viktor watched her closely. Of course he was training hard, and studying. But he had never seen someone study as vigorously as Hermione. When she was not in class, or eating, she was revising, sitting in the library with all of the volumes she could handle. He worried about her. She never relaxed, apart from when she slept, and even then he was unsure if she truly relaxed. He looked forward to the break, for her sake, to allow her to relax.

Chigvintsev knew what was happening. He saw Hermione every Tuesday and he could see her becoming weaker, more anxious. But, he did not relent on her training. In hopes that she would realise on her own, that she should herself decide when to relax and take a break. However, it seemed his plan was failing, as she never truly relaxed. She would write her diary and eat but that was it. Chigvintsev decided that if this continued, that he would have to intercept and teach her a different kind of lesson.

Hermione waited in Chigvintsev's office. He was never late. She tapped her foot on the floor, knowing that she was wasting precious time that she could be spending studying or writing her diary. When ten minutes passed, she became worried. However, it was in that moment, that he strolled into his office, seemingly content with his tardiness.

She didn't wish to appear rude, but she was rather offended that he had not apologised for his lateness.
"There is no lesson today, Hermione. I vould simply like to spend some time vith you." His smile was soft and touched his eyes in a way that seemed genuine. Hermione remained silent, unsure what to say.
"Tell me vhat is on your mind right now." He demanded and before she even thought, she had said it:
"I am wondering why you were late for our session." And she immediately regretted it. It was not her place to be rude to someone so superior. She feared his judgement and punishment, until he laughed.
"I vas having tea vith a friend. Sometimes ve are late, and it is acceptable." He explained and Hermione internally huffed, knowing that this was not the truth.
"You vish to fit as much vork and studying as you can into your time. But you do not have fun. Vhen you have fun, you lose track of time." He explained.
"But I am here to study." Hermione replied, looking down at her shoes.
"Yes, but I can not see you this vay. You are talented and bright, you do not need to practice so hard. I vant you to take time out to have fun, vithout books." Hermione was immediately daunted by the task.
"I fear I do not know how." She muttered, before thinking once again. Chigvintsev's heart sank when he heard her. She had suffered and endured so much that she had forgotten how to have fun.
"Chat vith your friends, go out and play in the snow. Play Quidditch if you like-" He knew he had spoken wrongly "-or perhaps wizard chess." Hermione nodded, fiddling with her skirt.

Hermione left her meeting feeling more confused than when she had entered it. Her homework was to relax and have fun. Tragically, this seemed far more difficult than any other homework she had ever received from the Headmaster. Her only real friends were Seamus and Viktor and they were both busy with Quidditch and Owls. So, she found herself a little stuck.

She found herself wandering about the Durmstrang castle, when she heard a rather muggle sound, the sound of a blacksmith. She peeped into the room, where many of the men hammered metal into submission and moulded it as they pleased. Hermione was mesmerized by the pure strength of the men. However, she then saw the professor, a beautiful woman, her face wrinkled in concentration, slumped over a piece of glass. Hermione knew exactly what she was doing: enchanted glass blowing.

Hermione had only ever heard about the practice, she had never seen it in action. However, watching the woman sculpt the glass, until it glowed a gold beacon, like the ice of a frozen fountain. However, the enchantment that she had cast into the glass made it seem as if it still moved, as if the water still flowed. She stood, in awe of the beauty, but decided to move on, knowing that she was not patient enough to hone such a skill.

The woman had seen her, out of the corner of her eye. She had spotted the girl with the limp watching her. The class was loud, but she heard her walk away.
"You should come and try it." She leant against the door and called out to her. Hermione turned, but the woman was gone, but her interest was not.

Hermione's dreams were haunted by the enchanted glass, changing from blue to purple, from purple to red and from red to pink, until finally settling into a hybrid of the rainbow, glinting in enchanted light. She had heard that only the most steady and grounded witches and wizards could hone the craft of enchanted glass blowing. She was sure that she was neither steady nor grounded, but still the ancient art appeared in her sleep.

Professor Dorfinde had heard of Hermione Granger. Of her abilities and talents, but also her power, a power that many were afraid of. Alice had been similar to Hermione when she was a child. Her power and skill scared many and it was not until her mentor taught her the art of glassblowing did she understand the beauty and grace of her skills and power. She knew how Hermione felt, being excluded for being strong. She was aware that Chigvintsev had been tutoring her, but it was not enough, her power still flowed through her, unruly.

Hermione found it strange that before, she had not seen the woman in the elegant heels and tight black dress around the castle. However, after their encounter, it seemed as if she was everywhere she was. Perhaps it was because she spent a large amount of her time alone, now that Viktor's time was taken up with training and studying and sleeping, they did not even eat at the same time anymore. But, whatever the reason was, the lady in the black dress did not appear to be going away anytime soon.